Data Center Manager of the Year Finalists Announced

AFCOM has announced the finalists for its annual “Data Center Manager of the Year” award. The 2014 finalists are Dave Leonard, Chief Data Center Office at, ViaWest; Robert McClary Senior Vice President & General Manager at FORTRUST; and Jason Pfaff, Vice President, North America DCaaS at IO. The Data Center Manager of the Year winner will be announced during a special reception at 2014 Spring Data Center World during a luncheon on Tuesday, April 29 from 12:15–1:30 p.m.

“Nomination for the Data Center Manager of the Year award marks the pinnacle of professional achievement in our industry,” said Tom Roberts, president of AFCOM and chairperson of Data Center World. “These three individuals stand out at as leaders for their companies and demonstrate clear leadership in the Data Center industry. In a business that evolves as rapidly as ours, Dave Leonard, Rob McClary and Jason Pfaff are leading the way.”

AFCOM’s Data Center Manager of the Year Award recognizes outstanding leadership and excellence in the field of data center and facilities management. The award embodies innovation, organization, versatility and ambition in data center management. Judging criteria is based on the following characteristics: tenure of excellence, history of innovation, superior customer service, positive team environment, and community focus.

Dave Leonard – Chief Data Center Officer, ViaWest
As Chief Data Center Officer, Dave Leonard directs the design and construction of new data centers and data center expansions for ViaWest, as well as defining the standards and practices for operation of the company’s data centers. He is also responsible for strategy and positioning of the data center colocation product lines. Prior to ViaWest, Leonard founded Critical Infrastructure Consulting LLC, and was the chief technology officer of Infocrossing for nine years. He was also the chief technology officer for (i)Structure, a division of Level(3) Communications which Infocrossing later acquired. Prior to that, Leonard was chief technology officer of Corporate Express, Inc. based in Broomfield, Colorado.

Robert McClary – Senior VP & General Manager, FORTRUST
Rob McClary joined FORTRUST in 2001. As Sr. VP & GM, he is responsible for the overall supervision of business operations, construction and the strategic technical direction of FORTRUST. Rob developed and honed his management skills during his 16-year tenure in the United States Navy serving in both enlisted and officer roles. Rob completed over 25 service, engineering, technical, leadership and management schools and courses while in the United States Navy and is a graduate of Southern Illinois University. Additionally, Rob received designation as an Accredited Tier Specialist (ATS) by the Uptime Institute in 2010.

Jason Pfaff – Vice President, North America DCaaS, IO
Jason Pfaff brings over 15 years of related experience, and has been directly involved in the design, build, and operation of 1.5 million square feet of space and 175 megawatts of power. Since his time at IO, he has been Senior Vice President and a pivotal leader in the company’s focus on the shift from raised floors to modules. Jason oversees all of North America for IO, which equates to 1.3 million sq. ft./four sites, and is specifically responsible for the successful construction, commission and delivery of a 12 MW dedicated data center suite in only 90 days. Prior to joining IO, he worked for Sterling Network Exchange.

About the Author

Rich Miller is the founder and editor at large of Data Center Knowledge, and has been reporting on the data center sector since 2000. He has tracked the growing impact of high-density computing on the power and cooling of data centers, and the resulting push for improved energy efficiency in these facilities.

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